a·me·na·ble
(
-m
n
-b
l,
-m
n
-)
KEY
ADJECTIVE:
- Responsive to advice, authority, or suggestion; willing.
- Responsible to higher authority; accountable:
amenable to the law.
See Synonyms at responsible.
- Susceptible or open, as to testing or criticism:
"The phenomenon of mind . . . is much more complex, though also more amenable to scientific investigation, than anyone suspected"
(Michael D. Lemonick).
ETYMOLOGY:
Probably alteration of Middle English
menable, from Old French, from
mener,
to lead, from Latin
min
re,
to drive, from
minr
,
to threaten, from
minae,
threats; see
men-
2 in Indo-European roots
OTHER FORMS:
a·me
na·bili·ty
or
a·mena·ble·ness
(Noun),
a·mena·bly
(Adverb)
